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5A Basketball…. What if?

Over the past 12 seasons, the Andover Central and McPherson girls basketball teams have combined to win five state championships.

And the two tradition-rich programs were certainly headed for a title game tilt this season.

The Jaguars defeated DeSoto 61-52 in the 5A quarterfinals, while the Bullpups took down Basehor-Linwood 59-44.

Up next for Andover Central in the semifinals was Topeka Seaman, while McPherson got fellow 5A power, St. Thomas Aquinas.

Prediction: The Jaguars were surprisingly dominant against a Topeka Seamen team that had won 20 games. Andover Central jumped out to a 16-6 first quarter lead and never looked back, winning 59-43. Sophomore Brittany Hers haw led the Jaguars with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

McPherson and Aquinas exchanged blows all game in a back and forth affair. The Saints led at halftime 21-18, the Bullpups outscored Aquinas 14-7 in the third quarter and held on for a 42-38 win. Grace Pyle led the Bullpups in scoring with 14 points.

The championship game lived up to all expectations.

Andover Central held a slim 25-23 lead at halftime, but much like its game with Aquinas, McPherson went on a run in the third quarter to lead after three, 39-35.

Pyle, who poured in a game-high 20 points, scored 10 of them in the fourth quarter as the Bullpups defeated Andover Central 54-46 to earn their 10th state championship.

December 30, 2018: during the NFL Football Game between the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Kendall Shaw/CSM

Spring Sports 2020… What If?

Thursday, March 11th, Black Thursday in the VYPE Nation – the final day of high school athletic competition for the 2019-20 year thanks to the Coronavirus. There are so many fantastic success stories that were left untold. As part of the VYPE Year-End review, our editorial folks decided to have some fun and make predictions on what might have been for some of our VYPE Nation athletes!